A few pictures from the last week, as we have eaten up the miles in Russia....
The police, and the police stations that dot the whole road network. They pull you over for no reason, and are a law unto themselves in terms of the fringe benefits that they extract from many hapless drivers. Shame.
The reality of suburban Russia. Pretty grim tower blocks, that are identical in every city we have been through
Police, army, nurses....anyone in uniform...all fascinated by the rally.
Camera phones being pointed our way, the whole way from Beijing, all eager to get a glimpse of Tim.
Ditto waves from cars that pass us (and most do). Terrifying sights of drivers balancing their camera phones on the steering wheel, to get pics of each car
Very difficult to convey the essence of Russia. We have been very pleasantly surprised by the generous-heartedness of most we have encountered. And my goodness the country has changed so much since I was last here in 1992. I had only seen Moscow and St P then, so it has been so good to see rural Russia, and some of the smaller cities. The gap between the Moscow rich-kids and the old folk in the run-down villages in Siberia is just so stark, it's raw. But the place is moving. It is absolutely fascinating, knowing that it was a communist superpower 20 years ago. The feared Russian bear.
It has been a complete eye-opener for Tim and I to have been able to see up-close the two countries that in our youth were characterised as the then "Axis of Evil", (namely China and Russia). The warmth from the people of both counties has been extraordinary. Sure, it's influenced because they get a real giggle from seeing these old cars. They often comment that it seems strange to buy an old car like this, when you can get 2 new Japanese cars for the same price. At times, we have been tempted too.
Bizarre scene yesterday in Moscow, seeing a Ferrari dealership and a Ralph Lauren shop, within a stone's throw from the Lubianka (the feared ex HQ of the KGB).
Back to reality tho in St P today, trying to get the garage to fix the apparent crack where the suspension meets the rear axle. More on this later.
Back to reality tho in St P today, trying to get the garage to fix the apparent crack where the suspension meets the rear axle. More on this later.
3 comments:
message from Widz reklayed thru me. He doesn't do teckie either, only gin.
Please can you forward via their blog this message:
Nigel and Tim
Congratulations,I am proud of you both! Keep going!
Please also pass my best wishes to cars 68 38 76 and 121 and tell them that I look forward to several long cooling drinks with them somewhere soon!
Robin aka Widz
Wow. We're all on the edges of our seats waiting for the next instalment... Best of luck with the suspenders or whatever and love from us all. (PS Harry on her usual amazing form at the Newbury Watermill last week. I hope your ears were burning as we talked of nothing but your adventures...) Love from us all Georgie and Mark x
Thrilled to have more reports to brighten my days though sad that this has come as a result of less driving for you guys - fingers crossed that the St P mechanics can do their magic. Amazed to note that you clocked the new Moscow Ralph Lauren store - we did allthe media comms for them for it last month. Keep trucking!
Abel
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